Master-control apparatus



Nov. 4, 1930. L. E. SPRAY MASTER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR; L.E,3prqy 7 Chi-W NOV. 3 1.. E. SPRAY MASTER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Jar 29,' 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 x 6 7 P x 5 Q 0 z 5 n 6 a w 1% 0%,. 2% x M M ul 1 M 5 x mc n 7 X w c FT -1. -L w c ,Ii. r v v WM h x 4 5 a a S 2 0 F 4 2 Z a 1 I m h; J 2 2 25' INVENTOR 7 L.E.S

Patented Nov. 4, 1930 niair msatss srarss rsrsar QFFlQli LESTER E. SPRAY, F "WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH 82; SIGIQ'AL COMPANY, 015 S'WLSSVALZT, f'fili lfiSYIL'VBIEIIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIAj MASTER-CONTROL Arena-ares Application filed January 29, 1930. Serial No. 424,258.

My invention relates to master control apparatus, and is particularly suitable for, though not limited to, apparatus for controlling trafiic governing devices such as switches s and signals in a railway interlocking plant.

One feature of my invention is the provision of means, comprising a master lever controlled by a slow-acting device, for releasing electric locking for a plurality of control levers instead of by the common method of using a separate slow-acting device for releasing each control lever such, for example, as in i a usual railway interlocking plant. I

I will describe three forms of master control apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features there of in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of mas'ter control apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing modifications of portions of the apparatus of Fig. 1, and each also embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference characters 1, 1 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a stretch-of double traclrrailway, The two tracks are interconnected through a crossover track Y and switches H and H Rails 1 and 1 are divided by insulated joints 2 toform sectionsAB and B-C. Rails 1 and 1 are divided by insulated joints 2 to 3 form sections DE and E-F. Section A-B is connected with a siding Z by a switch H Each of these track sections is supplied with currentby a battery 3 connected across the rails adjacent one end of the section,.and is provided with a trackrelay designated by the letter G with a distinguishing exponent and connected across the rails adjacent the opposite end'of the section.

Signals designated by the letter S with distinguishing inents over switchesH H and H3 Signals S and S govern eastbound moves, that is, moves toward the right, as shown in the drawing, over switch H normal and reversed,

56 respectively, Signal governs Westbound exponents govern trafiic movemoves over switch H in its normal position, and signal S governs westbound moves over switch H reversed or switch H normal and switchl-l normal. As shown in the drawing, each of these signals is of the semaphore type, Signals S S S and S operate contacts 20, 19, 21 and 39, respectively, each of which is closed when and only when its signal is indi-. cating stop.

Switches H H and .H 'may be operated in any suitable manner as controlledby manually operable levers V and V The control and operating circuits for these switches form no part of'my present invention, and are hence omitted from'the drawing. The operation of switches H and H is'contrjolled by lever V and the operation of switch H is controlled by lever V 1 Each of these levers has a normal position a, a reverse position; 1, and two lock positions 3) and d. Lever V operates six contacts, contacts 13 and 550i which are closed only while lever V isin its a position; contacts l4- and 5'7 of which are closed only while lever V is in its position contact 4 of which is closed while lever V is in its nor its d position or any intermediate point; and contact 6 of which is closed while lever 1 is in its 5 or its 1 position orat any intermediate point. Lever. V operatescontact 13 which is closed when lever V? occupies its 91 position only, and con-' tact 1a which is closed while lever V occupies its 1 position only;

The signals S- are controlled by levers V and V each of which has a normal position it, a reverse position 7 to the left, a reverse position 2? to .the right, a lock position a to the left, and a lock position 2' to the'right ofthe normal position 72,. Lever V when in its I f position, controls signals S and, when'in its t position, controls signal S or S according as lever V is in its'n or its 1" position for controlling switches H and H Lever V, when in its '7 position, controls signal 3*. Lever operates two contacts 23 and 24 I each of which is closed when lever V 00- cupies its 1' position only; contact 53 which is closed when lever V is in its t position only; contact 59 which is closed when I lever V is in its; 7 position only; and'contact 87 which is closed While lever V is in its f or its 72/ or any intermediate position. Lever V operates contact 72 which is closed when lever V is in its f position only.

5 The manual operation of lever V is controlled by two electric lock magnets L and L respectively, as in acommon form of railway interlocking machine. Each of these electromagnets, when energized, attracts a p dog 61, as shown for magnet L and, when deenergized, permits its dog 61 to fall against a segment 62 which is operated by leverV as shown for magnet L. hen lever V is moved toward its 7 position, both of its sogments 62 are moved toward the" left along an arc of a circle. The segment for magnet L is provided with a stop 63 which, if its dog 61 is down when movement or" lever V is attempted while lever V will engage its dog 61, preventing movement of lever V away from the a position. The segment for magnet L is provided with a stop 64, which, if its dog 61 is down when movement of lever V is attempted while lever V is in the 7' position, will engage its dog 61, preventing movement of lever V away from its 7" position. Stop 64 also checks, at position 5, the movement oflever V towa d its 1' position, and stop 63 checks, at position In) (Z, the movement of lever V toward its a position, except as con. rolled by the usual. switch indication apparatus which forms no part or" my present invention and which is therefore omitted from magnets L and L similarly to the manner in which lever V is controlled by magnets L and L as just described. Magnets L and L for lever V are controlled by track relays G and G for the sections in which switches H and H respectively, are located. Magnets L and L for lever V are controlled by relay G for the section in which switch H" is located.

Magnets L and L can also, at times, be controlled by a manually operable push button contact 52 in series with a contact which is operated by a master lever V Magnets L and L can, at times, be controlled also m by a manually operable push button contact 49 in series with a Contact 4'? which is operated by master lever V Push button contacts 49 and 52 are normally open, being closed only when. manually depressed, and returning to the open posi ion when not menuallv held down. Master lever V has tons, a normal position it, a reverse posit on 9", and a lock position m Lever V operates a segment 68 which, by a cam 70, controls as low-acting device not shown in the drawing and, by a shoulder 69,

trolled by the slow-acting device through arod '71 which is rigidly connected with a dog LeverV operat-es four contacts includas contacts and 50 which are closedwhen is in its at position,-

the drawing. The manual operation of lever V is controlled by is in turn con lever V is in its r position only, and contacts 37 and l5 which are closed when lever V is in its n position only. The slow-acting device is associated with lever V as already stated, and the method of control of the slowacting device by lever V and the method of control of lever V by the slow-acting device may be similar to those disclosed and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,310,500, granted to W. P. Neubert, July 22, 1919.

The manual operation of lever V is controlled by an electric lock magnet M as in common railway interlocking systems. Magnet M when energized, attracts its dog 61, and, when deenergized, permits its dog to fallagainst a segment 66 which is operated by lever V VVhen'lever V is moved toward its f position, segment 66 is moved toward the right along an arc of a circle, and when lever V moved toward its 1' position, ment 66 is moved toward the left along an oil the same circle. Segment 66 is provided with a stop 67 which, when its dog 61 is down, engages dog 61 and checks the mov mentof lever V at position a or 2' when lever V is moved from its 7 or its 6 position, respectively, toward its 7L position. Lever V is thus arrested until magnet M becomes energized and lifts its dog 61 away from stop 67. Lever V is controlled by its magnet M similarly to the manner in which lever V controlled by magnet M as just described. Magnets M and M are controlled in pa rt by contacts operated by master lever V and in part by the contacts operated by the signals.

A stick relay Tis controlled by track relays G and and by levers V and V Re lay T enters into the control of magnet M of lever V 7 A time releasing device U which may he of the clockwork type, is employed in the usua manner for releasing the approach locking of lever V by magnet M A similar releasing device U is also employed in the usual manner for releasing the stick locking oi lever V by magnet M Although not shown in the drawing, it is lever V when moved to be understood that from its 7t position, mechanically locks lever V It is also to be understood that lever V when moved away from its 7a position, mechanically locks lever V and when lever V is in its normal position 92, lever V loci-:s lever V in its a position.

in Fi 2, section B(l, switch H and sig l- S are shown asin Fig. 1. Lever V n. wnin 2, is, however, controlled by "we cl ctric lockv magnets M and M instead the single magnet M shown in Fig. .evei' V here has a second lock position 0' the'leit, and a second look position 70 to e right of the normal pos tion It, and therere' has a total of seven instead of the five ositic'ns shown in Fig. l. Lever V by its contact 7 2, controls signal S as in Fig. 1. A segment 66 for each of the magnets'lil and Mfl'respec'tively, is operated by lever V Segment 66 for magnet M has a stop 74 which arrests after the beginning of its movement-from the f or the 2'; position, respectively, to yard file h Position g t '56 for magnet M 1 77 and a shoulder 7 6 which are so arranged that lever V is arrested-when it is being returned from its to its n position,instead otwhen it is being moved from its n toits r position as shown in Fig. 1

In Fig. 3, all'parts cept that lever V hastwo additional contacts, 82 which is closed while lever V is in its 472/ or ts 0 or anyintermediate position, and contact 83 which is closed while lever V is in its n or its on or any'intermediate position. Contacts 82 and 83 complete additional branch paths in the control circuits for magnets M and M, respectively.

Having, thus clescribed, in general, the arrangement and location of the various parts comprising my invention, I will nowtrace the operation of the apparatus.

As shown in the drawings, all parts are in their normal condition, that is, track sections A-B, BEG, D E and E.F are unoccupied, switchesH ,ll and H are in their normal position, signals S S S and S are. and are indicating Fstop, levers V V in. their a position, and levers V and V are in their h position. Each of the track relays G is therefore energized. Reiierring to Fig. 1, with lever V in its a position and track relay G energized, relay T is energized by its circuit passing from terminal 00 of a source of current not shown in the drawing, through contact 4 of lever, V wire 5, contact 9 of relay G Winding of relay T, wire 86, and contact 87 of lever V to terminal 0 of the same source of current. A branch iath is also closed passing from the wi terminal 0. and lever V in its n position, energized by its circuit passing 00, through'contact andthe winding'of magnet L? to terminal 0. ,lVith relay G energized and lever V in lever Vtat its positions a or 68, which are as in Fig. 2, 6X1

ding of relay T, through contact 85 ofrela'y T,-to, l/Vith relays G and G wener ized magnet L is from terminal 10 of, relay G Contact 11 ofrelay G wire 12, contact 13 of lever. V 1

from terminal :0, through.-

of lever V and'the Winding of magnet L to terminal 0. V i

' I will assume that, with all parts thus in their normalconditiomthe :leverman moves .lever V to its t position for clearing signal S The arm of signal S isthen operated to its proceed position byits. circuit passing from terminal :12, through contact 53 of lever Vi, wire 54:, contact 55 of lever V wire 56, and the mechanism of signal S to terminal 0. Lever .v upon being moved to its t position, mechanically locks lever V ll an east boundtrain now enters section 15-]? and stopsin sectionE F' clear of the crossover, and if the leverman then desires to reverse switches 1-1. and 'H he will re turn lever V as far as its 71 position where it will be che'ckedyby dog 61 of lever V until the arm of signal S has moved to its stop position and closed its contact 20. With contact closed, magnet'M will be energized by its circuit passing through contact 19 of signal S contact 20 of signal S contact 21 of signal S wire 22,

contact 23 of lever V wire 24;, contact 25 of;

relay G wires and 36, contact 37 of lever V wire 88, and the. winding of magnet M to terminalo. Relay G is deenergized by the train in section E-F, and hence a branch pathis also closed, passingfrom contact 21 of signal S through wires 26 and 27 and contact 28 of relay G to wire 30. Magnet M now lifts dog 61, and the leverman then resumes the movement of lever V to its 72,

positon, mechanically unlocking lever V With relay G deenergized,contact 10 of relay G is open, and hence magnet L is deenergized, thus'preventing movement of lever V to its 1' position.

The, leverman will V to its m position where it will be checked by dog 8e coming against shoulder 69 of segment=68. After intervalof time, a slow-acting device lifts rod 71 and so moves dog. 84 away fromshoulder 69. .The leverman will then continue the movement of lever V to itsr position. He

will then close push button contact 52, thus completing a second circuit for magnet L passing from terminal as, of lever V wire 13 of lever Vfiand the winding of magnet L to terminal,- 0 The leverman' will now reverse lever V to cause switches H and H to be moved to their'reversepositions. The

leverma-n can now again move lever V to its 6 position, thereby completing a circuit for signal Stpassingifrom terminal 00, through contact 53 of lever V wire 54, contact 57 of lever, V Wire 58, and themechanism of signalS to terminal 0. i 7

If relay T'is still deenergized on account of relay G being deenergized, or it it becomes deenergized due to an eastbound train passing signals and entering section from terminal m,

therefore move lever the lapse of a measured through contact 51, contact 52, contact.

lever V cannot again be returned to its h position until lever V its a position. This isbecause relay T, after having become deenergized, cannot again become energized until lever V has been returned to its it position and has closed its contact 87 which is in series with the winding of relay T. The levermanwill therefore return lever V to its a position, thereby closing its contact 37. If relay G is energized, magnet M will now be energized by its circuit previously traced through con tact 25 of relay Gfland hence lever V can be returned to its 7t position. Relay T now becomes energized by a second pick-up circuit passing from terminal 00, through contact 6 of lever V wire 7, contact 8 of relay G contact 9 of relay G winding of relay T, wire 86, and contact 87 of lever V to terminal 0. With lever V in its 1* position when relays G and G are both energized, magnet L becomes energized by its circuit passing from terminal w, through contact 10 of relay G contact 11 of relay G wire 12, contact 14 of lever V and the winding of magnet L to terminal 0. With magnet L energized, lever V? can nowbe moved away from its 7 position.

When the circuit for magnet M as first traced, is open at contact 25 of relay G it can become closed, when relay G is deenergized, as in usual approach lockingcircuits by a branch path passing from contact 21 of signal S through wires 26 and 27, and contact 28' of relay G to wire 30 as previously traced. Another branch path around contact 25 passes from contact 21 of Signal S through wire 26', and contact 29 of releasing device U to wire 36, as in the usual arrangement for releasing the approach locking for a signal lever.

Lever V is controlled by its magnets L and L similarly to the manner in which lever V is controlled by magnets L and L as just described, and its control will therefore be readily understood from the drawing without further description. Lever V is controlled by its magnet M similarly to the manner in which lever V is controlled byits magnet M except that there is no branch path-around contact 45 of lever V in the circuit for magnet M as there is around contact 37 of lever V in the circuit for magnet M The control of lever V will therefore be readily understood from the drawing.

I will now assume that lever V is in its a position, and that hence switches H and H are in the normal position, and that lever V has been moved to its t position for causing the arm of signal S to .occupy its proceed position. I will also assume that relay G is deenergized, and that the leverman has started to reverse lever V in order to release the electric "locking of lever V to permit operation of switch H from one posihas been returned to now return lever V tion to the other. I will further assume that before the interval of time has elapsed as required for the operation of the slow-acting device for lifting the rod 71 to move dog 84 out of engagement with shoulder 69 of segment 68 of lever V the leverman desires to return lever V to its h position. lVith lever V in its a position, and assuming that relay G is energized, relay T will be energized by its circuit previously traced through contact 4 of lever V Lever V having been moved away from its a position, its contact 37 is open, and hence the circuits for magnet M of lever V previously traced through contact 37 are open.

W hen the leverman moves lever V from its t to its 2' position, contact 34 operated by lever V will become'closed and hence, relay being energized, magnet M will now be energized by a circuit passing from terminal 00, through contact 19 of signal S contact 20 of signal S contact 21 of signal S wire 22, contact 23 of lever V wire 24, contact 25 of relay G assuming that relay G is energized, wire 31, contact 32 of relay T, wire 33, contact 34 of lever V wires 35 and 38, and the winding of magnet M to terminal 0. With magnet M energized, the leverman can now return lever V to its h position although lever V has been moved away from its a positionpreparatory to releasing lever V I will next assume that with all parts again in their normal condition as shown in Fig. 2, the leverman clears signal S by moving lever V to its f position and thus closing its contact 72 in the operating circuit for signal S which passes from terminal 00, through contact 72, wire 73, and the mechanism of signal S to terminal 0. If, before a train has passed signal S", the leverman should 'desire to change the position of any of the switches over which traflic is controlled by signal S, he will move lever V from its f to its a position, and will then move lever V to its 1" position, thereby completing a circuit for magnet M passing from terminal at, through contact39 of signal 8*, wire 78, contact 79 of lever V and the winding of magnet M to terminal 0. IVith the magnet M energized, dog 61 for magnet M is lifted out of engagement with stop 74, and hence the leverman can move lever V as far as its 6 position Where it will be checked by dog 61 for magnet M engaging stop 7 5 of segment 66 for magnet M The leverman will as far as its at position where it will be checked by dog 84 engaging shoulder 7 6 of segment 68 of lever V Upon the lapse of a measured interval of time, the releasing device associated with lever V? Wlll raise rod 71, thereby removing dog 84 from engagement with shoulder 76, and the leverman -Will then continue the movement of lever V to its a position. With lever V in its a position, magnet M will be energized by ,for" controlling each one of a tion, magnet M being its'circuit passing from terminal 00, through contact 80 0f lever V and the winding of magnet M to terminal 0. The movement of lever V to its h position can then be completed to permit the operation of the desired switch-lever. 1 A p If, when the leverman has cleared signal S by moving lever V to its f position as previously described, a train enters section 13-0, deenergizing relay G and if the leverman then returns lever V to its a position, opening its contact 7 2 and so causing the arm of signal S to fall to its stop position, mag net 'M for lever V will become energized by a circuit passing from terminal w, through contact 89 of signal S*, wire 40, contact ll, of relay G and the winding of magnet M to terminal 0. If lever V is in its a position, magnet M is energized as already described, and hence lever V can now bereturned to its h position.

With the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, lever V can be returned to its position by means of the procedure and under the corn ditions just described in connection with Fig.

2, except that the circuit for magnet M as well as the circuit for magnet M includes contact 390i signal St If, on the other hand, lever V has been moved to its reverse position in order to release some other signal lever than V and has been returned as far as its m position, lever V, when relay G is deenergized, can be returned to its h position while lever V is still in its m posithen energized by its circuit passing from terminal at, through contact39 of signal S wire 40, contact l1 of relay Grflwire 81,contact83' of lever V and the winding of magnet M to terminal 0. Magnet M is, at the same time, energized by itscircuit which follows the path just traced for magnet M as far-as wire 81, thence through contact 82 of leverv and the winding of magnet )M It is thus clear that with the arrangement of Fig. 3, lever V can bereturned to its h position if relay G is deenergized, although lever V is being manipulated to release some other signallever.

It is to be understoodthau although in Figs'..2 and 3 I have shown circuits for con-- trolling only one signal lever V by master lever V exactly similar circuits can be used other signal levers as well as lever V by lever'V.

I Fromv the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it is clear that as shown in Fi lmay invention provides a master lever for releasing any one of a plurality of switch levers when the track relayfor the section'in lwhichthe switch is located isdeenergized. It, is also clearthata given interval oftime must elapse between the return of a signal lever toits normal to terminal .0.

plurality of electric lock which when deenergized locks position and the release of a .switch lever which is associated with the signal'lever.

t is clear that, in Figs. 2 and 3, my invention provides means for releasing the ap proach or stick locking for each one ofa plurality of signal levers. Vfith the arrangement of Fig. 2, master leverv V when reversed to release a givensignal lever, does not prevent any other signal lever from being reversed forclearinga signal and does not prevent the operation of any switch which is-not in the route controlled by the signal lever'which is being released by the master lever; It is also clear that with the arrangen'ients shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when lever V is beingeinployed to release a signal lever, a given interval of time, as con-1 trolled by the slow-releasing device which is associated with lever V must elapse during the return of thesignal lever from one of its reverse positions to'its normal positi'on h.

Fig. 3 provides for still more flexibility ter lever'V when releas ng any given signal lever, does not prevent the control of any other signal lever by its usual releasing circuit througha back contact ofaa track relay in the route governed by thesignal.

Although'l have herein shown and described only' three forms of'ma-ster control apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood-that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I l I Having-thus described my invention, what Iclaimis: I

1. In combinationya railway track switch, a signal for governingthe movement of trailfic over said switch, a manually operable signal lever having anormal and a reverse position, means for clearing said signal when said signal lever is moved to its reverse position, amanually operable master lever hav ing a normal and a reverse position, a manu ally operable switch lever having a normal and a reverse position for controlling the lit).

operation of said switch to itsnormal and reverse positions respectively, a normal elec-- tric lock wh ch when deenerglzed locks said switch lever in its normal posit on, a reverse 7 said switch lever in its reverse position, means for energ1z1ng sa d switch lever locks when saidmas'ter' lever s in ts reverse position,

andmeans for preventingthe'movement of said. signal lever from its reverse to its nor mal position eXceptwhen sa d master lever is in'it-s normal position;

lncombination, a railway track switch, a signal for governing the movement oftraffie over said switch, a manually operable mgnal lever having a normal and a reverse position, means for clearing said signal when said signal lever is moved to its reverse position, a manually operable master lever having a normal and a reverse position, a manually operable switch lever for controlling the operation of said switch, an electric lock which when deenergized prevents movement of said switch lever to control said switch, means for energizing said electric locl: when said master lever is in its reverse position, and means for preventing the movementof said signal lever to its normal position except when said master lever is in its normal position.

i 3. In combination, a plurality of railway track switches, a plurality of signals each of which governs the movement of tratfic over one or more of said switches, a plurality of manually operable signal levers each having a; normal and a reverse posit-ion, means for clearing-each of said signals when one of said signal levers is moved to its reverse position, a manually operable master lever having a normal and a reverse position, means for controlling the operation f each of said switches to its normal or its reverseposition when said master lever is in its reverse position, and means for preventing the movement of each of said signal levers from its reverse to its normal position except when said master lever is in its normal position.

4. In combination, a railway track switch, a signal for governing the movement of traffic over said switch, a manually operable signal lever having a normal and a reverse position, means for clearing said signal when said signal lever is moved to its reverse position, a manually controllable slow-acting device having a normal and a reverse position, means for controlling the operation of said switch when said slow-acting device is in its reverse position, and means for preventing the movement of said signal lever from its reverse to its normal position except when said slow-acting device is in the normal position. r

5. In combination, a railway track switch a signal for governing the movement of traffic over said switch, a manually operable signal lever having a normal and a reverse position, means .for clearing said signal when said signal lever is moved to its reverse position, a manually controllable device having a normal and a reverse position and which can be moved quickly from its reverse to its normal position but which enforces the lapse of a measured interval of time during movement from its normal to its reverse position,

means for controlling the operationof said switch when saidsdevice is in its reverse position, and means for'preventing the movement of said signal lever to its normal position except when said device is in its normal-position. y r 1 p 6. In combination, a plurality of railway signals for governing a plurality of traffic movements, a pluralityof manually operable signal levers each having a normal and a re verse position, means for clearing each of said signals when one of said signal levers is moved to its reverse position, an electric lock for each of said signal levers and which when deenergized prevents movement of its lever to the normal position, a manually controllable device having a first and a second position, means for deenergizing said electric locks when said device is in said first position, and means forenergizing said electric locks when said device is in said second position. 7. In combination, a railway signal, a manually operable signal lever having a normal and a reverse position, means for clearing said signal when said lever is moved to its reverse position, a manually controllable device having a normal and a reverse position, means for permitting part only of the return of said signal lever from its reverse to its normal position when said device is in its reverse position, and means for permitting the completion of such return of the signal lever when said device is moved to its normal position.

I 8. In combination, a railway signal, a manually operable signal lever, means controlled by said lever tor controlling said signal, a

manually controllable slow-acting device,

means for arresting the movement of said lever at afirst and a second locking point, means controlled by said device for permitting said lever to be moved quickly past said first locking point, and means controlled by said device for permitting said lever to, be moved past said second locking point .only upon the lapse of a given period of time after said lever is moved past said first locking point. 7

9. In combination, a manually operable signal lever, means controlled by said lever for controlling said signal, a first and a second locking point for said lever, an electromagnet, a second electromagnet, means controlled by said first electromagnet for permitting said lever to be moved past said first locking point, means controlled by said second electromagnet for permitting said lever to be moved past said second looking point, a manually controllable device having a first and a second position, means controlled by said device in its first position for controlling said. first electromagnet, and means controlled by said device in its second position for controlling said second electromagnet. I I

1U.-In combination, "a railway: signal, a manually operable signal lever, means controlled by said lever for controlling said signal, a first electric lock which when deen'ergized arrests the movement of said lever at a first locking point, a second electric locl which-when deenergizedarrests the movement of said lever at a second locking point,

railway signal, a

a manually operable device having a first and a second position, means controlled by said device when in said first position for energizing said first electric lock, and means controlled by said device when in said second position for energizing said second electric look. I

11. In combination, a manually operable lever for controlling a railway signal, a first electric lock, a second electric lock, means controlled by said first and second-electric locks for controlling said lever, a manually operable device having a first and a second position, means controlled by saiddevice when in said first po-sition for controlling said first electric lock, and means controlled by said device when in said second position for controlling said second electric lock.

12. In combination, a manually operable lever for controlling a railway signal, a first electric lock, a second electric lock, means controlled by said first and second electric locks torcontrolling said lever, a manually operable master lever having a first and a second position, means controlled bysaid master lever for controlling said electric locks, a slow-acting device controlled by said master lever, and means controlled by said device for so controlling said master lever that saidlever can be moved quickly from its first-to its second position but that said lever can be moved to its first position upon the lapse only of a given period of time after said lever has left its second position.

13. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signal for controlling trafiic movements into said stretch, a manually operable lever for controlling said signal, a first and a second electric lock, means controlled by said first and second electric locks for controlling said lever, a manually operable master lever having a first and a second position, means controlled by said masterlever when I in its second position for controlling said first electric lock, means controlled by said master lever when in its first position while said stretch of track is occupied for controlling said first electric lock, means controlled by said master lever when-in its first position for controlling said second electric lock, and means controlled by said master lever when in its second position while said stretch of track is occupied for controlling said second 7 electric lock.

14. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signali'or controlling traific movements into said stretch, a manually operable lever for controlling said signal, a first and a second electric lock, means controlled by said first and second electric locks for controlling said lever, a manually operable master lever having a first and a second POSltion, a slow-acting devlce controlled by said master lever,'means controlled by said device for a "resting the movement, of said master lever when in its second position for controlling said first electric lock, means controlled by said master lever when in its first position or at said locking point or at any intermediate point while said stretch of track is occupied for controlling. said first electric lock, means controlled by said master lever when in its first position for controlling said second electric lock, and means controlled bysaid master lever when in its second position or at said locking point or at any intermediate point whilersaid stretch of track is occupied for controlling said second electric lock. i 15. In combination, a manually operable lever for controlling an electrical device, a first and a second electric lock for controlling said lever, a manually operable master lever having a normal and a reverse position, means controlledby said master lever in its normal position for controlling said first electric lock, and means controlled by said master lever in its reverse position for controlling said second electric lock.

In testimony'whereof I affiX my signature.

' 1 LESTER E. SPRAY. 

